1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

C HURCH OF S T . M ONICA
413 EAST 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10075
RECTORY: 212-288-6250
W EBSITE :
ASSOCIATES:
REV. JOE A. FRANCIS
REV. JOBY MATHEW
IN SUNDAY SERVICE:
REV. RICHARD AROLD
ORGANIST &
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC:
MR. DAVID SCHAEFER
CANTOR &
LEADER OF SONG:
MR. JOSEPH NEAL
WWW . CHURCHOFSTMONICA . ORG
PASTOR:
REV. MSGR. THOMAS A. MODUGNO
MASSES
SUNDAYS:
7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:30AM,
12:00 NOON PRINCIPAL LITURGY
WEEKDAYS &
FIRST FRIDAYS:
7:30AM, 12:00 NOON
SATURDAYS:
9:00AM, 5:30PM VIGIL
BAPTISMS & MARRIAGES:
BY APPOINTMENT.
PLEASE CONTACT A MEMBER
OF THE PARISH STAFF
WELL IN ADVANCE.
SACRAMENT
OF RECONCILIATION:
CONFESSIONS ARE HEARD
AT 5:00PM ON SATURDAYS
AND ANYTIME BY
APPOINTMENT.
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER: APRIL 15TH, 2012
Page Two
APRIL 15TH, 2012
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
On this Divine Mercy Sunday we recall the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas: “Mercy
consists in bringing a thing out of non-being into being.” We see this transpire
concretely in the life of the early Church.. The community of believers “was of one
heart and mind” and “they had everything in common.” They were filled with awe;
they were witnesses of wondrous signs; they dedicated themselves to the good of the
other; they were selfless and generous. They lived with the faith that “conquers the
world.” That is what the Apostle Thomas is looking for in the Lord’s open side. “The secret of Christ’s heart is
revealed to us through the clefts of his body” (Saint Bernard).
TODAY’S READINGS …
First Reading — The community of believers was of one heart and mind (Acts 4 :3 2 -3 5 ).
Psalm — Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting (Psalm 1 1 8 ).
Second Reading — Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God (1 John 5 :1 -6 ).
Gospel — The risen Christ comes to his disciples with peace and the Spirit. (John 2 0 :1 9 -3 1 ).
READINGS FOR THE WEEK …
Monday: Acts 4 :2 3 -3 1 ; Jn 3 :1 -8
Tuesday: Acts 4 :3 2 -3 7 ; Jn 3 :7 b-1 5
Wednesday: Acts 5 :1 7 -2 6 ; Jn 3 :1 6 -2 1
Thursday: Acts 5 :2 7 -3 3 ; Jn 3 :3 1 -3 6
Friday: Acts 5 :3 4 -4 2 ; Jn 6 :1 -1 5
Saturday: Acts 6 :1 -7 ; Jn 6 :1 6 -2 1
Sunday: Acts 3 :1 3 -1 5 , 1 7 -1 9 ; Ps 4 ; 1 Jn 2 :1 -5 a;Lk 2 4 :3 5 -4 8
SATURDAY: VIGIL
5:30
Brian Mulqueen
SUNDAY: DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
7:30 Helen Burgess
9:00 Edward McGonagle (living)
10:30 Mary Keogh
12:00 St. Monica Parishioners
MONDAY: EASTER WEEKDAY
7:30 Joseph Polson
12:00 St. Agata
TUESDAY: EASTER WEEKDAY
7:30 Mary Golding (living)
12:00 Vincent Stephens
WEDNESDAY: EASTER WEEKDAY
7:30 Senora Andeliz
12:00 Doris Carrick
THURSDAY: EASTER WEEKDAY
7:30 Arturo Napolitano
12:00 John Farrelly
FRIDAY: EASTER WEEKDAY
7:30 Timothy V. Smith
12:00 George E. Donohue
SATURDAY: EASTER WEEKDAY
9:00 Martin, Annie, MaryTheresa
and Angela Gilligan
DOUBT …
The desire to be able to prove the existence of a divinity has troubled humanity since human consciousness first
became aware of the divine. To this very day we are fond of saying that any number of things—from sunsets to
hot fudge sundaes—are “proof that there is a God.” We get so caught up in the story of “doubting Thomas”
that we fail to notice that today’s Gospel gives us John’s account of Pentecost, the bestowing of the Holy Spirit
upon the disciples following the Resurrection. Thomas, evidently, missed out not only on seeing the Risen
Christ, but receiving the Holy Spirit as well. This is not to be taken lightly and, perhaps, makes Tho mas’
disbelief a bit easier to comprehend. It also makes his professing that Jesus is his Lord and God —the only time
the New Testament explicitly refers to Jesus Christ as “God” —more remarkable. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Page Three
Welcome to St. Monica's!
The music for today's Eucharist can be found
in our hymnal on the following pages:
STEWARDSHIP …
The EndlessTask
In today’s first reading the early Christians are described
as having “no needy person among them” (Acts 4:34). The
well-off, we are told, sold their possessions and gave the
proceeds to the apostles to share among the poorer
members. This assistance was possible in a small
community of believers, where everyone knew each other
and worshiped together. In most of our churches today
people only know a small portion of fellow parishioners,
and they may be entirely unaware of who is suffering from
job loss, overwhelming medical bills, a home foreclosure,
or other crisis. Some of us have fallen prey to “compassion
fatigue.” We are bombarded by negative news in the
media, and the problems seem so overwhelming that we’ve
withdrawn from trying to do anything. The surest cure for
compassion fatigue is to go out and commit ourselves to
serve in any way we can. Across the country thousands of
people are serving, caring for, and comforting “the needy
among them.” Catholic Charities and the Saint Vincent De
Paul Society are probably the most well-known
organizations, but there are many more local groups and
thousands of individual Catholics who are regularly going
out of their way to help neighbors, fellow parishioners, and
needy people in their local community. There will always
be crisis, natural disasters, economic downturns, and
personal suffering; it is an inevitable part of the human
condition. It is impractical in today’s world to think that by
selling all we have and giving away the proceeds we can
make a lasting difference. However, Jesus still expects us
to commit our time, our abilities, and our financial
resources to the continuing, unglamorous, sometimes
thankless task of serving others as if we were serving him
personally. On the Last Day, that is all he will ask us about
(Matthew 25:31-46).
Living Stewardship Now
We all have a financial responsibility as disciples. As well
as regular offertory to the Church, consider joining with
family members or a church group to form a giving circle.
Each member gives what she or he can and the total
amount is forwarded to a worthy cause chosen by the
group.
SPIRITUAL READING
You will not see anyone who is truly striving after spiritual
advancement who is not given to spiritual reading.
—St. Athanasius
PLEASE REMEMBER
Both in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.
- Romans 14
Please remember St. Monica’s Church in your will
Page Four
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION …
Today was once called in Latin “Dominica in albis,” or
“Sunday in White,” because the church was full of newly
baptized Christians wearing their white baptismal
garments. Another old title, best forgotten, is “Low
Sunday.” There’s nothing low about this festive Sunday in
Easter, the eighth day since the first “Alleluia” rang out. In
Christian tradition, the number eight is a symbol of
fulfillment, transition, breaking through the seven-day
rhythm of life to a new way of being. That is why many
baptismal fonts have eight sides. The greatest feasts of our
calendar are always extended for eight days, called an
“octave.” In a way, this means that this first week of Easter
is really considered to be one great day. This octave day of
Easter sees the best features of Easter still vibrant: joyful
alleluias, lush spring flowers everywhere, sprinkling with
water, and a lavish table where the Lord gives us himself
as bread and wine.
For Orthodox Christians, today is the Easter feast, since
their tradition requires that the Christian Passover cannot
begin until the days of the Jewish Passover are ended.
—James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
OUTSIDE THE PARISH…
To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Second
Vatican Council, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield,
Connecticut, will sponsor a two-day conference to mark
the special milestones on April 23 and April 24, 2012.
The conference is open to individuals working at the
pastoral and parish level including the priests and laity and
those who work in hospitals and as social workers; people
from the academic community and young adults. “We
particularly think it’s important to have young people at
the conference because they will be living with these
issues and they are the future.” “Everyone is welcome
because this is such a ground-braking time for the church.”
For more information or to register, visit:
www.sacredheart.edu/viiconference.cfm.
BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS …
Almost half of New York City children live in a single
parent household. In fact, 64% of households headed by
single mothers fall below the poverty line. Many of these
families need a little extra support. They want a role model
for their kids, someone who can give them guidance when
they need it and point them in the right direction. YOU can
be that role model.
For over 100 years, Catholic Big Sisters & Big Brothers
had provided one-to-one mentoring services for the city’s
neediest Catholic and non-Catholic children, ages 10-18.
CBSBB’s mentoring program is unique in that it focuses
on strengthening the child’s entire family, while training
volunteers on how to be friends and guides to a young
person in need.
CBSBB currently has a waitlist of 20 young women and
40 young boys who are desperate for a mentor. There is no
better gift than the gift of time. Please consider becoming a
mentor today. Contact Ryan Sheppard at (212) 475-3291
ext. 203 or at rsheppard@cbsbb.org to take a stand and
make a difference.
OUTSIDE THE PARISH…(continued)
2012 Christopher Leadership Course
Renew Hope. Boost Confidence! Discover your God given
talents. Develop your self-confidence, and a positive
attitude. Get inspired, have fun and make new friends.
The Christophers
5 Hanover Square 11th Floor New York, NY 10004
8 Weekly Classes – Wednesdays: April 18th – June 6th
5:45pm – 8:45pm. To register call 212-759-4050
or email www.christophers.org/leadership
leadership@christophers.org
SPECIAL DEVOTIONS
Rosary: Weekdays after the Noon Mass
and on Saturday after the 9:00am
Holy Hour: First Friday of each month after the Noon Mass
Devotions: Miraculous Medal on Mondays after each Mass
Page Five
Divine Mercy Sunday
The title was first approved by the Holy See in 1995 for the use of the Church in Poland.
Subsequently, upon request, the Church in Russia and the Church in the Philippines received a similar
provision. Then, acceding to the wishes of the Christian faithful from all over the world, on April 30,
2000, Pope John Paul II, declared that “this Second Sunday of Easter … from now on throughout the
Church will also be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’”
The Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in its decree
issued on May 5, 2000 formalized this declaration. The decree simply states: “The Supreme Pontiff
John Paul II has graciously determined that in the Roman Missal, after the title ‘Second Sunday of
Easter,’ there shall henceforth be added the appellation ‘or Divine Mercy Sunday’ and has prescribed
that the texts assigned for that day in the same Missal and the Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Rite
are always to be used for the liturgical celebration of this Sunday.”
By giving this additional designation to the last day of the Octave of Easter, the Holy Father
and the Congregation for the Divine Worship fulfilled the wishes of the Christian faithful, while at the
same time safeguarding the true meaning and import of Easter.
The original designation, Second Sunday of Easter, continues to proclaim, with all its
splendor, the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s dying and rising, His victory over sin and death, and His gift
of new and everlasting life. The added designation, Divine Mercy Sunday, points to the inscrutable
mystery of God, the mystery of Divine Mercy. It unveils the truth that “the Paschal Mystery is the
culmination of this revealing and effecting of [Divine] Mercy, and that the paschal Christ is the
definitive incarnation of Mercy, its living sign … [and] its inexhaustible source” (John Paul II, Dives
in Misericordia, 8,7).
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in his celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday on April 23,
2006, attested, not only to the key significance of this Sunday’s celebration, but also to the unity of the
Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday when he said:
“On this the Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday,
may God’s blessing of reconciliation and peace be with you all.”
Summarizing John Paul II’s understanding of “the mystery of God’s merciful love,” which was
at “the center of his Pontificate” and, in some way “summed up his Magisterium,” Pope Benedict XVI
underscored the importance of this message with unmistakable clarity: “the cult of Divine Mercy is not
a secondary devotion but an integral dimension of a Christian’s faith and prayer.”*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*The meaning of Pope Benedict XVI’s summary is even clearer in the original German: “The cult
[“Verehrung” – meaning worship, devotion] of Divine Mercy is not a secondary devotion [“zweitrangige
Frömmigkeitspraxis” that is, “secondary, or second rate devotion or a pious practice] but an integral
dimension of the faith and the prayer of a Christian.”